Jamie Carragher reveals Liverpool transfer failure that could 'blow up in their face' | OneFootball

Reds are big favourites to retain their title after spectacular summer, but there is one area of Arne Slot’s squad that could yet prove vulnerable

Jamie Carragher believes that Liverpool's failure to sign Marc Guehi could "blow up in their face" this season.

The Reds were on the verge of bringing the Crystal Palace centre-back to Anfield on Deadline Day, with Guehi even beginning a medical.

However, the Eagles pulled the plug on the deal late in the day as they faced difficulties finding a replacement and Liverpool missed out on their top defensive target.

It leaves Arne Slot potentially short at the back, with Joe Gomez and summer signing Giovanni Leoni providing the cover for first-choice pairing Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

With Gomez and Konate both having a history of injury problems, Carragher was asked on the Stick To Football podcast whether Liverpool could live to regret not signing Guehi.

Carragher replied: "Oh yeah, that's the one area. It's three games in, they've got nine points out of nine and probably not played that well. So we probably all say big favourites Liverpool.

"But that is the one area that could come back and blow up in their face. Guehi was giving Liverpool competition at centre-back, they haven't really got that.

Late drama: Guehi began a medical at Liverpool before Crystal Palace pulled the plug on Deadline Day move

The FA via Getty Images

"They've got two starters and two understudies. Joe Gomez, injury-prone himself, and the young lad (Leoni) who's only 18, come from Italy, going to be a great prospect.

"If one of them had to play for a couple of months, it's a big difference."

Guehi was asked about the situation after he started and scored in England's 5-0 win over Serbia on Tuesday night.

The defender smiled when quizzed on the last couple of weeks and how difficult it had been. He replied "it's always easy coming here" as he focused instead on England matters, drawing praise from Gary Neville.

"I thought it was brilliant," Neville said. "I thought the class, the way in which he handled the question around the situation with Liverpool, he had a smile on his face. He was so relaxed.

"He said it had been an interesting two weeks. He didn't antagonise, he didn't come out with anything smart. You can just tell he's a really good guy.

"Taking it back 10 days, there was a narrative that you're better off being Alexander Isak because you get your move than being Marc Guehi, who doesn't.

"No. In the long run, 70 years of your life, it will pay you back being Marc Guehi."